National transport ministers have criticised the European Commission’s plan to create ‘transport corridors’ as part of a revision of the Trans-European transport network, saying such a move would increase administrative burden and encroach on national sovereignty.

At a meeting of transport ministers in Brussels today, the UK was the most critical of the Commission’s proposal. Justine Greening, the UK’s transport minister, said member states had not been consulted about the corridors – specific routes connecting member states – before the proposal was drawn up and the costs involved would leave no money for investing in national infrastructure.

The British government says it cannot make funding pledges beyond the current multiannual financial framework, which runs until 2020. Under the proposal, the UK would have to invest €15 billion in rail and more than €50bn in roads, Greening said.

The UK was supported in its objections over costs by several countries, including the Czech Republic, Hungary and Latvia. The investment needs for rail in particular were seen as too high. Thierry Mariani, France’s transport minister, said he was concerned that governance of the corridors by the Commission would encroach on national and regional authority.

But Denmark, which takes over the rotating presidency of the Council of Ministers on 1 January, strongly supported the corridor approach. Sweden and Spain also support the proposal.

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Rail rules

At their meeting, ministers adopted a first reading position on changes to EU rail market regulations. The changes are largely technical, merging three directives and their amendments, but also aim to clarify existing rules that have been interpreted inconsistently by member states.

Ministers also reached agreement on updating the 2008 directive defining the minimum level of training for seafarers.

They reached partial agreement on updating rules for tachographs – machines that monitor how long a lorry driver has been behind the wheel. However, they failed to reach agreement on whether tachographs should be operable with a driving licence rather than with a separate card for drivers. They also still need to agree on penalties for those who break the rules and possible exemptions.

Ministers also approved a new mission to fight piracy off the Horn of Africa. The decision means that operational planning for the mission to build up the maritime capacity of states in that area can begin.